HTC Merge From U.S. Cellular – Review, Specification, Features, Price

The HTC Merge was announced and released in February 2011 for U.S. Cellular, Alltel and Verizon. It is also known as the HTC Lexikon and HTC ADR6325. IT is a mid-range smartphone running Android Froyo which is upgradable to Gingerbread and future models may come pre loaded with Android 2.3.

HTC Merge From U.S. Cellular

Specifications

• Display: 3.8” WVGA (480 x 800) 16 Million Color Capacitive Multi Touch S-LCD
• Keyboard: Slide Out QWERTY
• Operating System: Android v2.2 Froyo
• Processor: 800 MHz Qualcomm MSM7630
• RAM: 512 MB
• Storage Internal: 2 GB
• Storage Removable: microSD with 32 GB support
• Network 2G: CDMA 800/1900 and GSM 850/900/1800/1900
• Network 3G: CDMA2000 x1EV-DO and HSDPA 2100
• GSM Data: GPRS and EDGE
• 3G Data: Rev A up to 3.1 Mbps for HSDPA and HSUPA
• Wireless: WiFi 802.11 b/g/n and hotspot
• Bluetooth: v2.1 with A2DP and EDR
• USB: microUSB 2.0 Charging Support
• Camera: 5 Megapixel Auto Focus (2592 x 1944 pixels)
• Video Recording: 720p HD
• Navigation: GPS with A-GPS
• Battery: Li-Ion 1400 mAh

Features

Like all the Android smartphones from HTC, the Merge ships with the Sense interface enhancements. With Android, come the highly customizable home screens including the leap screen (accessed by pinching the multi touch display) which allows you to directly go to the home screen of your choice. The notification area pulls down from the top with the usual toggles and notifications. Below the screen the four dedicated touch buttons for home, menu, back and search. A long press on the Home button will pull the list of recently used apps. Sense also helps and organizes the information in a unified inbox. It comes preloaded with app through which the phone can be configured as a WiFi hotspot. Images and video can geo-tagged. Both HTC and U.S. Cellular have added some custom application like the Twitter App Peep, Footprings, City ID, Navigation App, Backup Software, and Flashlight.

Verdict

The HTC Merge supports both CDMA and GSM and has a GSM Sim Card slot; however GSM is not available from U.S. Cellular. If you plan to be travelling internationally, you have the option of taking this phone along and get a disposable number at your destination instead of opting for one of the roaming plans which do turn out to be quite expensive. The 5 Meg pixel camera offers good quality imaging and 720p HD recording and playback. The HTC metal body gives it a solid but hefty feel; however the metal trims give this phone a premium look. HTC changed the layout of the keyboard on the Merge however perhaps the older layout on the Desire Z was pretty good. Performance wise, the phone is sporting the older Single Core processor; however, there is enough capability to make things run smoothly on the Merge. The 800 MHz Qualcomm MSM7630 also powers the T-Mobile G2 and the Evo Shift 4G. The HTC Merge from U.S. Cellular is a decent mid-range Android Froyo powered smartphone.

Price

U.S. Cellular is offering the HTC Merge for $149.99 after mail in rebates, on a two year contract. At this price, this U.S. Cellular has positioned it with the other high end phones in its line up like the Samsung Mesmerize.